This issue should be back from the printers by Friday, 27th June, and will be being mailed out to our subscribers and distributors next week. My apologies that it's running a little late, but a combination of new advertisers arriving at the last minute, combined with some family health issues, put me a little behind my normal schedule.
So, what have you got to look forward to in this issue? There is plenty of writing to expand your mind as always, and lots of top tips for those willing to try something new.
- "Bags of potential". New contributor Diane Sutherland brings a female perspective on the hobby. This long-suffering 'wargames widow' discusses the way we accumulate mountains of 'stuff' that most sane people would probably throw away.
- Mike Siggins' Forward Observer column can't avoid dealing with the arrival of yet more 28mm plastics, but also looks at bases, the new Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang Pulp range, washes and painting techniques, adhesives, Sharp Practice from the Lardies, Alban Miniatures, and much more besides.
- Bob Barnetson, one of our most prolific contributors, shows the breadth of his talents with "The least you can do", a quick-and-dirty lesson in getting your wargames armies painted and ready for the table fast!
- Stokes Schwartz is new to Battlegames, but well-known to Old Schoolers who enjoy exploring imagi-nations. In "12 must-know secrets about 1/72 plastics", he extols the virtues of those much-maligned boxes of miniatures that can be found in almost every toy and model shop.
- "Solo wargaming: the joy of self-simulation" is Rich Barbuto's contribution to this packed issue. Rich is Editor of Lone Warrior, the journal of the Solo Wargamers Association, and has many excellent ideas for inspiring us to explore the potential of challenging ourselves in our wargames.
- Now that I'm taking a break from the Wars of the Faltenian Succession, I thought I'd come up with a tough, teaser-type challenge for you. The result is "Night raid on Gravelines", best described as an 18th-century commando mission! Can your brave Marines execute the perfect sneak attack on this well-defended pirate lair?
- C S Grant's Table Top Teaser is "Fighting withdrawal, or over the hills and far away", which has you pitching regular, government troops against onrushing hordes of highlanders charging through the heather. Can you make it back to the fort?
- In "To Boldly Go", our fantasy and sci-fi Editor Roger Smith recalls the delights of his trip to Salute earlier this year, and the surprising range of inspiration he derived from it. Roger, tempted by Napoleonics? Surely not!
- Yet another new writer gets into print this issue: Tyler Provick explains "Computer cartography for wargamers", giving us a useful introductory lesson on how to use free software like Inkscape to create magnificent maps.
- Unlike last time, the Recce section is absolutely heaving with reviews. Having held over stuff I didn't have space for last time, there was plenty to catch up with anyway, but a lot more bits and pieces have arrived over the last several weeks! A host of books, figures, models, computer games and rules come under our scrutiny.
- With his usual wit, John Preece's short War and Preece column honours the Oxford University Wargames Club, which may indeed be the oldest wargaming society in the world.
This new issue will, of course, be added to the Shop as soon as it comes back from the printers.
COMBAT STRESS
You may have noticed that in issue 12, we welcomed a new advertiser, Combat Stress. Battlegames is carrying this advertisement without charge, as a small contribution towards the work that this U.K. charity is doing for our Service men and women who have experienced unimaginable horrors and stresses on the front line in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and elsewhere.
If you are, or know of, an ex-Service man or woman who is suffering from the effects of combat stress, or would just like more information, then you can visit the Combat Stress website at combatstress.org.uk, email contactus@combatstress.org.uk, or call 01372 841680.